You are what you eat! May 17, 2020
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Food, nature, photography, Treats, wildlife, Zoos
12 comments
This is day 66 of my staying home during the COVID19 pandemic. So how’s your diet? What have you been eating during your time at home? Comfort food? Salt? Sugar? Too much caffeine? Alchohol? I thought I would show what types of food and treats our zoo animals eat. Perhaps modeling our own behavior after them would be a very good thing. Hope you all are healthy and staying safe.
Mother’s Day 2020 May 10, 2020
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Happy Mother's Day, nature, photography, wildlife, zoo babies, zoocation
9 comments
My mother was born in 1918 during the Spanish Flu pandemic. I wonder what she would have to say about what we all are living thru today because of COVID19…sigh. I want to wish a very Happy Mother’s Day to all to all of the mothers, caregivers, nurturers, pamperers, surrogates and loving coddlers out there regardless of how you celebrate the day during these unusual times. Our mother, Lillian Wolfe, is long gone, but her advice, warnings and general ‘Lili-isms’ live on in our daily lives. She taught us to laugh at life, to think, to question authority, to march, to protest – to fight the good fight. She also gave us our moral compass – one glance from Lillian told us instantly whether our behavior was acceptable or not – and I got a lot of glances. My sister Terry and I remember many childhood events differently but we both agree that our mother was a pistol. Here’s to Lillian Wolfe – she formed and informed what we are today. 
Oh those April Showers May 3, 2020
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: april showers, Madison Square Park, may flowers, nature, NYC, photography
13 comments
It seemed to rain more than usual this April in NYC. The good news is that those April showers sure brought those beautiful May flowers. During my 52 days of lockdown (so far) I walk in Madison Square Park a lot both with my dog, Mr. Pepe and by myself. Round and round and round I go noticing all of the trees blooming, the flowers growing and the grass getting greener. I managed to even read all of the memorial plaques on the benches which made me both sad and nostalgic.I hope you are all staying healthy and managing to get out to smell the flowers (thru those masks if you can). 
PENGUINS! April 26, 2020
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: photography, Rockhopper penguins, chinstrap penguin, King Penguins, Gentoo, Macaroni, Antarctica, Falklands, South Georgia, Adelie
18 comments
Yesterday was World Penguin Day. I set aside what I was going to post this week to continue to celebrate these charming animals. They surely deserve more than one day of celebration. I was lucky to take the trip of a lifetime in 2005 to Antarctica, the Falklands and South Georgia. It was fun to look at our trip through my old photos. I selected some to share with you today. I hope they bring a smile to your face. Today is day 45 for me being home during COVID19. I continue to try to keep a schedule and to do some constructive things to keep my mind and idle hands busy. I hope you are all safe and staying healthy.
Zzzzzz’s April 19, 2020
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, Central Park Zoo, nature, NYC, photography, wildlife, yawning animals, Zoos
14 comments
Do you find yourself catching some extra Zzzz’s these days. Are you bored? Are you yawning? This is day 38 for me staying at home as a non-essential person. Hats off and loud cheers to all of the essential folk out there. I appreciate your heroic and difficult efforts during this COVID19 pandemic. So what have I been doing? I have brought out my art supplies and hit the drawing board which feels pretty good. I am a bit rusty but other than my three cats and a dog, who is going to judge me? I keep in touch with the heroic zookeepers and education staff at the Central Park Zoo who are keeping everything going. I check in on my sick friends daily. I text a lot, enjoy some face-timing with family and friends and get and send many silly memes which always make me laugh. I try to reach out via telephone to two people a day and have longer chats than usual. Of course there are always dog walks. I read the newspaper – even the articles I am not very interested in. Am I bored? Not really. But I thought these yawning photos of animals might make you smile – and we all can use that. Stay safe out there.
Rabbits, Rabbits, Rabbits April 12, 2020
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, Belgian Hares, Dwarf Hotots, Flemish Giants, Giant Chinchillas, Harelquins, Himalayans, Holland Lops, photography, Rabbits, Thriantas, wildlife
6 comments
A very Happy Easter to all who celebrate even though this year will be very different as we are still hunkered down during this COVID19 pandemic.
Three Months with Mr. Pepe April 5, 2020
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, Audrey and Roberta, Mr. Pepe, NYC, Pete the Cat, photography
18 comments
It is definitely going to be challenge to come up with different topics for my Sunday photo blog while social distancing and quarantining during this COVID19 crazy time.Luckily I have my own little zoo here at home. Today’s montage features my cats Audrey, Roberta and Pete as they adjust to having nine pound Mr. Pepe around the house. Mr. Pepe has been with us for the past three months and all is hunky dory. The cats have learned to scramble when the tennis ball I throw to Mr Pepe comes their way. There is an understanding at meal times who gets fed first. There’s lots of sniffing and staring but by and large everybody is cool with this new living arrangement. Hope you are all safe and healthy. 
As predicted…and goes out like a lamb March 29, 2020
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, baby animals, Central Park Zoo, photography, zoo babies, Zoos
14 comments
As predicted, when I posted March comes in like a lion you just knew I would also post that March goes out like a lamb. I do hope that all of you are healthy and following the social distancing guidelines. It is day 16 for me at home and I am whittling down my ‘to do’ list. Think I either have to slow down or start to make another list. Enjoy some of these sweet lambs in today’s photo montage. All of these photos were taken at my home base, the Central Park Zoo. Sorry to say they have all grown up now but I remember them as they were – so very cute.
Hope Springs Eternal March 22, 2020
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: baby animals, Central Park Zoo, COVID19, NYC, photography, Sea Ducks, sea lion, Snow Leopard cubs, zoo babies
15 comments
Happy unusual spring to all of you. Hope springs eternal was coined by Alexander Pope in An Essay on Man in 1732 and quickly became proverbial. If you are like me, you are hunkering down, socially distancing, washing your hands and making a list of things you definitely, positively will do during this pause in all of our lives while we combat COVID19. Since I am committed to making a photo montage each Sunday (I have considered it a creative challenge for the past 17 years) I was stumped as to what to post this morning. How many photos of my three cats and my dog do you really want to see?I decided that we all need to smile and nothing makes me smile more than baby animals. All of these adorable baby photos were taken at my home base, the Central Park Zoo over the years. Once again – a tremendous salute to all of the people who are at the zoo taking care of our beautiful collection of animals and taking care of the facility and keeping it secure. I look forward to coming back soon.
When Irish Eyes Aren’t Smiling March 17, 2020
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Irish, NYC, photography, St. Patrick's Day
7 comments
We are living through strange times because of COVID19. It is the first time NYC’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, which draws about 150,000 marchers and two million spectators, will not go on as planned in more than 250 years. It is, like most things, postponed until a later date. I salute the many zookeepers and zoo employees around the US for taking care of our amazing animal collections and facilities while this virus circulates. Stay safe and wash your hands. The photo above the title is my dog, Mr. Pepe, who is doing his best to celebrate at home.
